Forgery Crimes in Louisiana

Common Forgery Crimes in Louisiana

Forgery is a crime that’s more common than many people think. People commit forgery for many different reasons. No matter the reason, however, forgery is a serious offense that results in significant legal consequences. One of the most common forgery crimes in Louisiana is check fraud. One can commit this crime in numerous ways, including the following:

• Forging a check signature
• Making a fake check
• Intentionally writing a bad check to a merchant
• Manipulating the writing on a check

Banks are usually the entities that press charges against suspected criminals since they’re the ones directly affected by the fraudulent activity. Whether the crime is charged as a felony or misdemeanor depends solely on the severity of the crime. However, being that check fraud often involves massive amounts of money, individuals often face felony charges.

Aside from checks, there are many other legal documents that can be used to commit crimes via forgery. Some of the most commonly forged documents include:

• Bonds
• Court seals
• Titles
• Deeds
• Currency
• Money orders
• Securities

Forgery cases are commonly tried on the state level which subjects offenders to penalties mandated by Louisiana law. Depending on whether the forgery had national implications, one could face federal charges which are accompanied by federal penalties.

What Are The Penalties for Forgery?

The penalties for forgery directly correlate with the amount of money that would’ve been gained if the forgery had never been identified. Someone caught forging a $10,000 check will likely face more severe penalties than someone who forged a $50 money order. However, forgeries done on a comparatively small scale can still be picked up by federal courts if the offender forged a federal document like a bond or committed the offense in multiple states.

Penalties for a forgery conviction often include the individual having to pay back the stolen funds (also known as reparations) and incarceration that can range from a short jail sentence to a lengthy prison term. In some instances, the courts can rule to have an offender’s assets seized to cover the amount owed.

Louisiana Forgery Defense Lawyers

If you have been charged with forgery, there are experienced attorneys available who can help you build a credible defense. Some of the most common defense strategies for forgery crimes include no intent to commit a crime and no intent to defraud a person. 

Another defense strategy is to prove that you did not actually forge the document. This will take more evidence and professional evaluation of the signature. If you are able to take this angle, however, it’s often successful. 

All of the defense strategies mentioned here are extremely effective. The best defense strategy, however, is one that is directly based on the circumstances of your case.